Managing the Gray – Positive Advice That Everyone Can Use to Succeed

[...] I just recorded Managing the Gray #13. I had planned to do it last night, but the kids wouldn’t fall asleep (time zone shift) so I didn’t want to try. Of course I had to record it twice this morning. Half way through the first time the cat started getting sick. Not a sound I want my listeners to have to listen to in their ear buds. *grin* [...]

The transcripts are fantastic!

The one thing that kept me away from podcasting was the fact that the format was diametrically opposed to the vision of the “semantic web” where the entire web would be searchable through and textual (or at least easily parsable) data would flow easily through the internet. I didn’t understand how someone could put any important information into a format which is useless when it comes to finding that information again.

My marketing speciality is search engines and training companies on how to create content which isn’t just pushing a specific product but contributing to the “global store of information.” Through through web/blog search engines you will attract the attention of the exact market segment that you want to advertise to.

Anyway, enough ranting… all that to say I’m VERY happy to see your shows up as transcripts.

Is branding with album art important for podcasts? I think so. One thing I try to do with every show of mine is make it self-contained, so that if someone just hands off the MP3 to someone else, the whole show is in there. Show notes in the Lyrics section. Contact info in the Comments section. Podcast logo in the Album Art section. It’s absolutely true that iPods aren’t the only game in town when it comes to listening, but they still command between two thirds and three quarters of the country’s portable player market share, and they all display album art, as do applications like Coverflow.

That said, if your show’s logo isn’t a strong brand, then [a] it should be! and [b] cover art may not matter as much. In a medium where price is essentially a non-factor, brand is all we’ve got.

Christopher S. Penn
Daily financial aid internet radio on demand, no iPod required
http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com

Hey C.C.,

The transcripts are awesome…do you do them by hand or are you using software to do them?

I just found Managing the Gray and I’m digging it. Doesn’t hurt that I’ve started getting into Second Life (Dude Rust) as well.

Hope to see you in world someday.

Thanks.

I pay someone to transcribe them. I believe she does it by hand and does a GREAT job at it.

I’m psyched people like the idea.

[...] Managing the Gray #13 Transcript August 28th 2006 Keeping the Best Talent August 23rd 2006 (original post and podcast) [...]

Hey, I am subscribed through PodShow+, but this episode hasn’t come through yet. Any ideas? I am about ready to just resubscribe to the straight feed.

I’m not sure what feed you are using, but I’d reccomend everyone uses http://feeds.feedburner.com/managingthegray directly or through iTunes

[...] So in his latest episode of the podcast “Managing the Gray” C.C. Chapman talks about keeping talent in your company. And while listening to it I thought it might be good for Linden Lab to listen to it, too. Not so much because of keeping their programmers happy but more regarding their residents (who are part of their people with talent in the end). [...]

I did double check and am using that site. I will have to subscribe directly. I am trying the PodShow koolaid and I’ll tell you… it is a bit bitter.

I don’t let a single MP3 out of my computer without adding the album artwork- both for my music and for High Orbit. As a musician, it’s that extra little effort that separates someone with tunes from someone who takes their audience seriously.

Now if I could just get my audience to take ME seriously.

Pax,
Matthew

I see why this one didn’t come in. There isn’t an enclosure for some reason.